The official journal of The Gemmological Association of Australia

"The advantages of a conversation provoking brooch or pin are many. Contemporary designers are exploring their possibilities, whether as a silk flower on a man's jacket, conceived as an 'icebreaker' accessory worn by a 'gentleman, who immediately appears more creative and stylish without being de trap' or an oversized Burberry lapel pin, worn first in an advertising campaign but perhaps ready to find its place in the mainstream fashion of the near future."

Format Hardback

Language: English

Number of pages: 159

Publisher: Thames & Hudson, in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

City of publication. London

Publication date: 2079

Dimensions: 23.5 x 76.5 x 2 centimetres

ISBN. 978-0-5004803-5-9

Kaaren Morrissey FGAA

Inside Out I GEM•ology Through Lotus-Colored Glasses By E, Billie Hughes, Richard W. Hughes, Wiman Manorotkul

Foreword by Paolo Minieri

Chinese translation by Jason C.H. Kao ('~~~) I Jinding Yu (fitrrirJ) I Bonnie Chao(gg,,tfg)

It is now 46 years since the late Dr. E. Gubelin published his ground-breaking book, Internal World of Gemstones - Documents from Space and Time (Gubelin, 1973). Gubelin was not just a great gemmologist, but also a lover

85

Book reviews of nature and how its beauty is reflected in precious stones. In the introduction he told of being spellbound by the fascinating beauty of the inclusions which lie hidden in the tiny jewels of natural gemstones, and his intention was to display their ravishing magic before the well-disposed reader. Gubelin's absolutfl appreciation of gemstones is what, forty years later, the Hughes stable of gemmologists have magnified and broadened in their most recent publication, Inside Out/ GEM•ology Through Lotus-Colored Glasses.

Why do people buy and appreciate gemstones? Is it only the basic attributes of beauty, durability and rarity that attract them? Surely, the story behind any gemstone is as important, if not more important, than its appearance. During a presentation to gemmologists in Australia Richard Hughes once said: "The purchase of a precious stone is an emotional contract that connects the new owner with people and places across the planet".

To quote Billie Hughes from the book "The true value of gemstones rests upon more than just external appearance. When you hold a ruby in your hand, you hold not just a pretty pebble, but something of far greater value. Because every gem contains the excitement of the miner who discovered it, the place from where it was found, the hope for a better future, and the painstaking care and risk a lapidary took to shape and polish it. And all of this is wrapped up in a bundle of light that will never dim with time."

When it comes to photography, Billie and her parents make a fine team. In previous publications, Richard and Wiman had already earned a reputation for producing moving gem-related portrait images and Billie has won several international awards for her gemstone inclusion shots. Their combined talents have resulted in a marvellous visual experience.

This publication provides a vehicle to journey to a heightened appreciation of gemstones, both inside and out, whilst simultaneously cre­ating a more sensitive appreciation of those associated with their production. With Inside Out's brilliant photos and photomicrographs, each reader wi ll build in their mind their own unique perception of the relationship between human endeavour and science.

Whilst Inside Out deliberately contains a minimal amount of text, it abounds with visual stories, giving readers the opportunity to create their own narratives. Just imagine how many geological mysteries Mother Nature has hidden within every photo in the book. Dare to dream about the adventures of the varied occupations, fields of study and human endeav­our behind every portrait. Contemplate how

a combination of many individuals' ingenuity, skills, labours, discoveries, research, and hard work are brought together to climax in but one of the photomicrographs featured.

Inside Out is a truly stunning work reflecting the combined personalit ies, skills, knowledge and philosophy of the authors, who have created something exceptional and innovative for the world of gemmology.

Reference Gubelin, E.J (1973) Internal World of Gemstones. Zurich, ABC Verlag, 234pp.

Format: Hardcover with Dust Jacket; Full Color Throughout

Language. Bilingual text in English & Simplified Chinese

Number of pages: 152

Publisher. Lotus Publishing/ RWH Publishing

E-mail.· info@lotusgemologycom / Web: wwwlotusgemologycom

City of Publication: Bangkok, Thailand/ Boulder, Colorado, USA

Publication date: 2019

Dimensions: 27 x 36 cm; 2.5 kg shipping

Weight 2.5kg

ISBN. 978-0-9645097-3-3

Terry Coldham

Carnet By Michelle Ong

Carnet by Michelle Ong is large, colourful, bold and spectacular, very much like the visually stunning jewellery creations of Michelle Ong herself. Ong's boutique jewellery house, Carne:. was created in 1998, and her work since tha time is showcased in this superb publication.

Book reviews I 84 - _